MQ/K Front Springs

[r0ck_m0nkey]

Can someone tell me the difference between all MQ and MK front springs, in regards to different bushes used.

Reason i ask is my MQ has greasable shackles on the front, with solid bushes on both the chassis and spring, and the shackles are straight. I have a spare chassis in the backyard which has a solid bush on the chassis, but the spring is slightly wider with a rubber bush, and the shackle has a slight step in it, but only has a greasable bolt on the chassis mounting. But i was just looking at ShortyMQ's thread in the members section, and it appears to have a straight shackles on the front, with rubber bushes both on the spring and chassis.

I was hoping to order new springs in the near future and what to get it all cleared up before i head out and buy them, and was wanting to use the same springs as on my spare chassis with the rubber bushes and the shackles off it, and if when ordering i should be just asking for MK springs????

[GOT MUD]

i bought an mq ute and when i went to have them reset and add extended shackles they told me they were mk and a book they had said that both mq and mk are the same length from chassis mount to centre bolt but mq are longer than mk buy about 20mm which puts the shackles out front a bit further with reset they will tend to stand almost upright i dont know if that helps but i found with my hunting around that theres so many types of springs like petrol and diesel differant amounts of leaves i do know that the steel bushes can be pushed out and replaced with polyurethene (rubber) so who know wot may have been done to your springs before you got it hope some helps cheers

[bazzle]

Where are you going to get the new springs from?
As stated above the later MK, uses rubber on the main leaf. So do OME replacements for both., (poly)
Ask your supplier what they suggest to.

Bazzle

[bucket'o'bolts]

depending on where you are there are a few places you can goto if you are in nsw then i reccommend going to see carrolls suspension if you are in bris then come see me lmao but i had the steel bush in my springs and in the chassis and it was not very giving so i got my springs remade with the mq pack but with an mk main and wrap leaf there for giving me poly bushes in the spring which allows it to flew so much better on an articulation ramp i got about another 40-50cms on a 30deg ramp now as for the steel bushes in the chassis there is not a thing you can do about it without cutting and welding new mounts etc. on i am at the moment toying with the idea of coils or for total budget build up i will be turning the front springs around so that the hangers are at the back of the spring therefore increasing ride comfort if you have any questions gimme a holler

[RMP&O]

steel bushes will last a lot longer like at least 5 times longer if not 10 times. Poly are nice but wear fast and can get dmg pushing max flex.

Yea springs come in a variety of packs. Big thick many leaf packs for load carrying, thinner fewer leaves in the pack for flex. Yes a diesel weighs more than a petrol motor, hence diesel springs over petrol ones. Shackels are basically shackles, just look for the strongest ones and a type you like. Greasse able shackles only way to go.

Extending shackles to get lift is not a very good way to go. many peeps do it but IMHO it sucks. I could give lot's of reasons why they suck but won't. If you going to use 2" extended shackles to lift it, go with a 2" body lift instead. it will give better results, likely be cheaper and will not change drive train dynamics as much as the shackles. Also if you have the leaves out then you may want to either strengthen the spring hangers or replace them with better ones. From what I understand the hangers are the weak point in an MQ/MK suspension.

[Screwy]

steel bushes will last a lot longer like at least 5 times longer if not 10 times. Poly are nice but wear fast and can get dmg pushing max flex.

Only as long as they are always well greased, If not they will corrode and get stiff, noisey and are an absolute pain in the backside to get out if they need to be changed in the future.

screwy

[buger man]

i had steel bushes in my old mq and i had automatic greasers fitted . had the grease tubs mounted on the chassie with a hose running to the shackel they were called permalube you fitted them up then screwed a plug in the end and it started two gases mixing together slowly and pushed the grease out . usto last about 6 months worked realy great